Reminder for bridge players



Dern 20,'1927.

'W. L. SLAYTON REMINDER FOR BRIDGE PLAYERS Filed Dee. 1. 1926 lll Patented Dec. 2Q, 1927.

uursg sfr WALTER LEE SLAYTON, OF TOLEDO, DHU).

REMINDER FOR BRIDGE' PLAYERS.

Application filed December This invention relates to indicatingdevices, but particularly to "an indicating` device for bridge players tor indicating or reminding the players of the player who last dealt, the number et the bid., the suit bid, and other 'facts oi interest to players.

Objects ot this invention are to provide a simpl-e and unique device oitl the above character' which may be conveniently operated for registering the desired facts, and which is pleasingI and ornamental in appearance; to provide novel and 'eiiicient means for driving` a plurality ot Wheels or discs from a single operating; member so as to simplify the operating means to a great extent, to provide a device of the above class having neuT and improved features ot construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

The illustrated embodiment ot the invention is shown in the drawings, inv Whicht- Fig. l is a plan view of the indicator device; Fie'. 2'is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showingthe manner oit operating;- or

a rotating the telescoping tubular members;

3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2; Figs'. 4l and 5 are transverse sectional vievvs on the lines 4ta-4l and 5 5 respectively7 of Fig. 3 showing the clutch mechanism for driving the Wheels from the tubular members; Fig. 6 is a developed view fromV the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a` perspective vievv ot a. portion ot the casing. i

The illustrated embodiment ot the invention consists ot an indicating` device tor bridge players and will be understood as being useful 'for keeping a record oit the player Who last dealt, the number ot bid, and other :tacts which are so easily forgotten during the game. This device visibly indirates the desired facts and eliminates Waste ot time during the game, and reduces the liability of arguments to a minimum. While the invention has been illustrated and will be described in connection With an' indicatingdevice -or bri dge players, it Will be understood that the invention is of much broader scope and the mechanical features of construction and operation are recognized ,as bein@- admirably adapted to otherv uses;

1, 1926. Serial No. 151,887.

therefore, this description Will be considered by Way of illustration and not of limitation.

The indicating` device comprising a plate l on Which may rest the score pad. One end of the plate is curved to term aI housing v2, which terminates in a portion 3 which extends over the plate l, and serves yieldingly to hold the score pad in place. Positioned Within the housing- 2 is a retaining member a which extends transversely the Width of the housing"1 2, and liredto opposite ends of the member 4t are heads 5. rllhe housing` 2 may be secured to the heads 5 in any suitable manner.

As indicated in Fig. 7, the retaining member 4t is divided into live recesses' 6, and disposed in each recess 6 and rotatable relatively thereto are Wheels 7, 8, 9, l() and ll, respectively. less than the diameter'ot the housing 2, and a portion of these Wheels is visibler through rectangular openings 12 in the housing; 2, one opening being provided for eachkivheel. The periphery oli' the Wheel 7 is numbered trom l to 6, inclusive, and serves to indicate the number or' tricks taken by the bidder, the Wheel 8 is numbered from i to 4t, and designates the suit of the successlul bidder; the Wheel 9 is numbered 'from l to 5, to indicate the honors; the Wheel 10 may `have the Words Bid, Double, Rcdouble; and the Wheel ll is numbered l to l to indicate the person who last dealt. lt Will be seen thaty by rotating the several Wheels or discs, the proper legendslwill be displayed through the openings l2 in the housing 2, and in kthismanner an accurate account of the game may be kept during the playing ot the hand.

Each. Wheel is provided with ai'hub 13 having" notches 14 in the outer surface thereof. The hub ot 'wheel 7 has six notches; the hub ot 'the Wheel 8 `has tive notches; the hub of the Wheel 9 hasve notches; the hub ot the Wheel 10 has three notches; and the hub of the Wheel 1l has -tour notches. As shown in Fig. 7, the partitions l5 dividing the'recesses 6 'from each other, extend but a portion of the arc and lined to the upper end of each partition 15 is one end off a" leaf spring 16. The outer The Wheels are ot a diameter end oi. the leaitspring is provided with a curved portion 1T, which is engageable in one ot the notches 111. In this manner the leaf springs 1G vieldinglv hold the wheels against movement, and serve to keep the wheels in theirl set position.

Ilxtendini,r ionfbiitudinalli7 through the housing` 2 is a stem 1S, the inner end of which has bearingin an opening 19 in the inner head 5. Fixed to and rotatable with the stem 18 is the wheel 7, a knob 20 beine,` lined to the outer end ot the. stem 1S and serving as the operating member. On the stem 18 is a tubular sleeve 21 on which the wheels 8 and 9 are tree to rotate. The outer end of the sleeve 21 is i'irovided with a head havingl a flange 23 provided with a pin Telescoping` over the sleeve 21 is asleeve which is shorter than the sleeve 21. and on which the wheels i) and l() are tree to ro tate, the outer end oi the sleeve 25 having.- a head 26 provided with a pin 2i'. It will be noted that the heads 22 and 2G abut and provide an unbroken exterior surface. Slidable on this surface is an operating` knob 2S having a. pluralit)7 ot radiali)Y disposed grooves 29 on opposite 'laces thereo'l 1`or engagement with the pin 24; on the head 22 or the pin 27 on then head 2G. B); sliding the operating knob 28 in one direction or the other for engagement with the pin 2st or 27. one or the other ol the telcscopin` tubes 2l and 25 may be rotated.

It will be noted that there is a pair of wheels (7 and 8) 'freely rotatable on the tube 21, and also a pair of wheels (9 and 10) on ther tube 25. In accordance with this invention, the operating knob 28 mayv be moved so that a notch 24; engages a pin 27 or 24:, and by rotating' the knob in one direction, one wheel is rotated, and bv rotating;4 the knob in the opposite direction, the other wheel of the pair is rotated. In this manner a single operating` member is provided for rotating tour wheels.

In order operatively to connect the tubes with the wheels, each wheel is provided with an annular recess 30 which is bounded by an annular row ot' teeth 31. Disposed in each recess 30 (with the exception of the wheel 6. which is indepemjlently operated as above described) is a collar 32, which is lixedlv secured to one of the tubes, and each collar is iormed with recesses S3 to receive dogs 34;. which are pivoted at The dogs in the collars 32, for example. the wheels 9 and 10., are arranged in opposite directions so when the tube 25 is rotated in one direction, one set ol dogs engage the teethA on the wheel D, and when the tube is rotated in the opposite direction, the wheel 10 is engaged for rotation, the dons in the wheel 9 sliding over the teeth. It will be understood that the leatl springs 16 hold the wheel, which is not engaged by the dogs, against rotation,

It will be understood that the wheels i' and 8 are similarly operated so that when' the operatingv knob 28 is moved into engagement with the pin and rotated in one di rcetion, one of the wheels is rotated and the other maintained statiomiry, and when the, knob is rotated in the opposite, direction, 'the other wheel is rotated.

lVhile I have shown and described one 't'orm oit clutch tor effecting;- this result, it to be understood that other forms ol clutches may be used to advantage, but the iorm hereinbefore described is one` that practical tor the purpose. Although this construction is the best 'form known to me at the present time, it is to be understood that numerous changes .in details et construction and arrangement may be etl'eet ed without oeparting Yfrom the spirit oi the invention, especially as delined in the appended claims.

That I claim as new and desire lo secure bv Letters Patent is: v

1. A device ol the class described comprising' a plurality oitl telescoping?` tubular members, a pair ot wheels tree to rotate on each of said members. clutch means for said niem bers. said clutch means beine)Y arranged to drive one member oit each pair when the respective tubular member is rotated in one direction and drive the other member ot the pair when the respective tubular member rotated in the opposite direction, and a single operatingmember engageable with one tube or another for rotating the desired tubular member.

2. A device ot the class described comprisJ ing' a pair of telescoping' tubular members. a pair of wheels tree to rotate on each member, clutch means for connecting the wheels with said tubular members. said clutch means being arranged to drive one wheel of each pair when the respective tuljiular member is rotated in one direction and drive the other wheel when the tubular member is rotated in the opposite direction, and an operating member longitudinally slidable on the end portions et said tubular members tor operatively engaging' one or the other otf said members.

3. A device of the class described coinprising aA housing'` heads closing opposite ends of said housing'. a pair ot telescopini,r tubular members extending longitudinall)1 into said housing, one tubular member heini; shorter than the other, a pair ot wheels 'lree to rotate on each tubular member. clutch means for operativelyv connecting said wheels to said tubular members, said clutch means being constriiieted and arranged to connect. one'wheel of each pair with the respective tubular member when said member is rotated in one direction and connect the other wheel with said member when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction, yieldable means to hold said wheels against rotation,

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and a single operating member' on the end portions ot said tubular members for engaging one or the other of said members.

4. A device of the class described comprising a tubular housing, heads closing the opA posite ends of said housing, a pair of tele-- scoping tubular members in said housing, a pair of Wheels free to rotate on each tubular member, clutch means for forming a driving connection ,between each Wheel and the le spective tubular member, said clutch means comprising pivoted dogs rotatable With the tubular members and an annular toothed portion on each Wheel, said parts being arranged so that rotation of a tubular member in one direction rotates one Wheel, and in the opposite direction rotates the other Wheel, and means for rotating each rtubular member independently of the other.

5. A device of the class described compris ing a pair of telescoping tubular members. one member being shorter than the other, a pair ot Wheels free to rotate on each tubular` member, clutch means for operatively connecting a Wheel of each pair to the respective tubular member when said tubular member is rotated in one direction and for connecting the oth-er Wheel to said tubular member when the latter is rotated in the opposite directimi, a single operating member` il'or said tubular members and slidable longitudinally on the end portions thereof, a stem in the inner tubular member, a Wheel iiXed to the inner end of said stem, and an operating member on the outer end oi said stem.

6. A device oit the class described comprising a housing, a pair of tubular members in said housing, one of said tubular members being shorter than the others, a pair ot Wheels tree to rotate on each tubular member, clutch means for connecting each Wheel to the respective tubular member, said clutch means being constructed and arranged to connect a Wheel of each pair to the respective tubular member when the latter is rotated in one direction and connect the other Wheel 01"' said pair to said tubular member when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction, ledges on said housing, leaisprin os on said ledges engageable with said Whe-els for l,

yieldingly holding said Wheels against rotation, and a single operating member engageable with one tube or another 'for rotating the desired tubular member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

VALTER LEE SLAYTON.

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